Operating device

ABSTRACT

In order to reduce influences of light from indoor lighting equipment or the like on the accuracy in detecting the position of an operating device, an operating device (301) includes: left and right hold sections to be held by a user, each of which is provided with an operating member at an upper surface thereof; a central section (321) which is a section between the left and right hold sections; and a light emitting surface (328c) adapted to emit light to be captured by an information processing apparatus through a camera, the light emitting surface (328c) provided at a front surface of the central section (321). The central section (321) includes a portion which is located over the light emitting surface (328c) and is located on a more forward side than the light emitting surface (328c).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an operating device to be utilized asan input device for an information processing apparatus such as a gamemachine.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, there has been an operating device to be utilized as aninput device for an information processing apparatus such as a gamemachine. An operating device disclosed in PTL 1 set forth below includeshold sections to be held by a user, at the left and the right thereof.The hold sections are provided with operating members such as operatingbuttons and direction keys.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

-   [PTL 1]-   U.S. Pat. No. 6,394,906

SUMMARY Technical Problem

If an information processing apparatus can detect the position of anoperating device, an image displayed on a display or movements of anobject in the image can be changed according to the position of theoperating device, namely, the position of the user. As a result, thepleasure of using the information processing apparatus and the operatingdevice can be increased. As a method for detecting the position of anoperating device, a method has been investigated in which an operatingdevice is provided with a light emitting section adapted to emit lightupon receiving light from a light source such as an LED, and the lightfrom the light emitting section is captured by an information processingapparatus through a camera.

However, if light from room lighting equipment or the like is reflectedon a surface of the light emitting section and mixes into the lightoutgoing from the light emitting section, it would become difficult toaccurately detect the position of the operating device.

In addition, in order to enhance the accuracy in detecting the positionof the operating device by the information processing apparatus, it isdesirable that emission of light from the light emitting section is evenover the whole area of the light emitting section. Where the number ofthe light sources is small, however, it is difficult to cause thesurface of the light emitting section to shine evenly.

Solution to Problem

According to the present invention, there is provided an operatingdevice including: left and right hold sections to be held by a user,each of the left and right hold sections being provided with anoperating member at an upper surface thereof; a central section which isa section between the left and right hold sections; and a light emittingsurface adapted to emit light to be captured by an informationprocessing apparatus through a camera, the light emitting surface beingprovided at a front surface of the central section. The central sectionincludes a portion which is located over the light emitting surface andis located on a more forward side than the light emitting surface.

In accordance with this operating device, influences of light from roomlighting equipment or the like on the accuracy in detecting the positionof the operating device can be reduced.

According to the present invention, there is provided another operatingdevice including: left and right hold sections to be held by a user,each of the left and right hold sections being provided with anoperating member at an upper surface thereof; a central section which isa section between the left and right hold sections; a light emittingpanel having at a front surface thereof a light emitting surface adaptedto emit light to be captured by an information processing apparatusthrough a camera, the light emitting panel being provided at a frontsurface of the central section; a light source disposed inside thecentral section, the light source disposed in a position spaced apartrearward from the light emitting panel; and a light guide memberextending from the light source toward a back surface of the lightemitting panel. The light guide member has left and right side surfacesso inclined that the width of the light guide member in a left-rightdirection gradually increases along a forward direction. In accordancewith this operating device, imbalance in the brightness on the surfaceof the light emitting panel can be suppressed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an upper side of a first example ofan operating device.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a front side of the operatingdevice shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the operating device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the operating device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the operating device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a back elevation of the operating device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a mode of use of the operating deviceshown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a face panel taken along line IX-IX ofFIG. 3.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of an example of an internalstructure of the operating device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an upper side of a second exampleof an operating device.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a front side of the operatingdevice shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the operating device shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is a front view of the operating device shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 15 is a side view of the operating device shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged view showing a back side of the operating deviceshown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a mode of use of the operating deviceshown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 18 is a plan view of a third example of an operating device.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the operating device shown in FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is a front view of the operating device shown in FIG. 18.

FIG. 21 is a bottom view of the operating device shown in FIG. 18.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of an operating device according to anembodiment of the present invention, and an upper side of the operatingdevice is shown in this figure.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the operating device shown in FIG. 22,and a front side of the operating device is shown in this figure.

FIG. 24 is a plan view of the operating device shown in FIG. 22.

FIG. 25 is a front view of the operating device shown in FIG. 22.

FIG. 26 is a sectional view taken along line XXVI-XXVI of FIG. 24.

FIG. 27 is a perspective view showing a modification of the operatingdevice according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 28 is a sectional view of the operating device according to themodification shown in FIG. 27.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS First Example of Operating Device

Examples of an operating device will be described below referring to thedrawings. FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of an operating device 1as a first example. FIG. 1 shows an upper side of the operating device1, while FIG. 2 shows a front side of the operating device 1. FIG. 3 isa plan view of the operating device 1, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged view ofa right side of FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a front view of the operating device1. FIG. 6 is a side view of the operating device 1. FIG. 7 is a backelevation of the operating device 1. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustratingone mode of use of the operating device 1.

In the following description, Y1 and Y2 shown in FIG. 1 indicate theforward direction and the backward direction, respectively. In addition,X1 and X2 indicate the rightward direction and the leftward direction,respectively. Further, Z1 and Z2 indicate the upward direction and thedownward direction, respectively.

The operating device 1 is utilized as an input device for an informationprocessing apparatus which has such functions as a function of executinggame programs, a function of reproducing motion picture images, or afunction of communication through the internet. The operating device 1is capable of communication, in a wired or wireless manner, betweenitself and the information processing apparatus. The operating device 1transmits to the information processing apparatus signals according tooperations conducted on the operating device 1 by a user. The operatingdevice 1 incorporates therein various sensors (acceleration sensor, gyrosensor, etc.) utilized for detection of the attitude and motions of theoperating device 1, a battery, etc.

As shown in FIG. 1, the operating device 1 has at a left portion and aright portion thereof left and right hold sections 10L and 10R to beheld by the user. The hold sections 10L and 10R are located to be spacedfrom each other in the left-right direction, and their front portionsare interconnected by a central section 21. At upper surfaces of thefront portions of the hold sections 10L and 10R are provided operatingmembers to be operated by the user. At the upper surface of the frontportion of the hold section 10R on the right side are provided aplurality of operating buttons 11. The operating device 1 in thisexample has four operating buttons 11, which are located at end portionsof a cross. At the upper surface of the front portion of the holdsection 10L on the left side is provided a direction key 19 having across-like shape. The hold sections 10L and 10R each have a grip 12. Thegrips 12 extend rearward from the front portions of the hold sections10L and 10R.

As shown in FIG. 1, the operating device 1 has a housing 40. The housing40 forms an outer surface of the operating device 1, and accommodatestherein various component parts possessed by the operating device 1. Thehousing 40 in this example has an upper housing half 41 and a lowerhousing half 49, which are combined with each other in the verticaldirection. The upper housing half 41 forms upper-side portions of thehold sections 10L and 10R and the central section 21, and the lowerhousing half 49 forms lower-side portions of the hold sections 10L and10R and the central section 21

As shown in FIG. 3, the operating device 1 has a plate-shaped operatingmember 22 at an upper surface of the central section 21. The operatingmember 22 includes a touch sensor 23 and a face panel 24 (in FIG. 3, theface panel 24 is crosshatched for clarification). The face panel 24forms the upper surface of the central section 21. In other words, theupper housing half 41 is formed with an opening 42 for exposing theupper surface (face) of the face panel 24. The face panel 24 covers thewhole body of the touch sensor 23. The touch sensor 23 is mounted to alower surface (back surface) of the face panel 24. The touch sensor 23is located between the operating members (namely, the operating buttons11 and the direction key 19) possessed by the left and right holdsections 10L and 10R. The touch sensor 23 is a sensor for detecting theposition of a user's finger touching the operating member 22. In otherwords, the touch sensor 23 outputs a signal according to the position ofthe user's finger. The operating device 1 transmits the signal to theinformation processing apparatus. The touch sensor 23 is a sensor of acapacitance type, for example. The touch sensor 23 is capable ofso-called multi-touch. In other words, the touch sensor 23 cansimultaneously detect the positions of a plurality of fingers. Forexample, the touch sensor 23 can simultaneously detect the position ofthe right thumb and the position of the left thumb. The operating member22 is so supported as to be capable of vertical movement in response toa user's pressing-down operation. The operating device 1 has a switchfor detecting that the operating member 22 is pressed. The operatingmember 22 functions as a button capable of on-off operations.

Since the operating member 22 is plate-like in shape, the distancebetween a right edge 24 a of the operating member 22 and the operatingbuttons 11 as well as the distance between a left edge 24 c of theoperating member 22 and the direction key 19 can be reduced (in thisdescription, the right edge 24 a and the left edge 24 c are respectivelythe right edge and the left edge of the surface of the face panel 24exposing via the opening 42 of the upper housing half 41). This enablesthe user to operate the operating member 22 with a thumb or thumbs whileholding the hold sections 10R and 10L (see FIG. 8). As above-mentioned,the operating member 22 has both the function of detecting a position orpositions by the touch sensor 23 and the function of detecting theuser's pressing-down operation. Therefore, it is possible, for example,to detect what position or positions the operating member 22 is touchedat. Specifically, since the touch sensor 23 has the multi-touchfunction, it is possible to detect a situation where the operatingmember 22 is simultaneously touched at a plurality of positions.

As shown in FIG. 3, the face panel 24 in this example is larger in sizein the left-right direction than the touch sensor 23. The touch sensor23 is rectangular in shape, and its lateral width is constant along thefront-rear direction. On the other hand, the lateral width of the facepanel 24 gradually increases along the forward direction. The face panel24 has a right projecting part 24R spreading rightward beyond the rightedge of the touch sensor 23, and a left projecting part 24L spreadingleftward beyond the left edge of the touch sensor 23. This structureenables the user to easily press the projecting parts 24R and 24L of theoperating member 22, even in the case where the touch sensor 23 has tobe reduced in size due to positional relations between the touch sensor23 and other component parts.

As shown in FIG. 3, the hold section 10R has at the upper surface of thefront portion thereof an area (hereinafter referred to as operationarea) AR in which the four operating buttons 11 are disposed. Similarly,the hold section 10L has at the upper surface of the front portionthereof an operation area AL in which the direction key 19 is disposed.The operation areas AR and AL in this example are substantially circularin shape. The touch sensor 23 has a lateral width corresponding to adistance D1 between a rightmost portion of the operation area AL on theleft side and a leftmost portion of the operation area AR on the rightside. On the other hand, a frontmost portion of the face panel 24 has alateral width W1 greater than the distance D1.

As shown in FIG. 3, the right edge 24 a of the face panel 24 is curvedso as to surround a portion at the left side of the four operatingbuttons 11. Specifically, the right edge 24 a extends from a position onthe left side of the four operating buttons 11 while being curvedforward and rightward. A front end 24 b of the right edge 24 a (theright end of the frontmost portion of the operating member 22) islocated forwardly of the operating buttons 11 (more specifically, theoperating button 11 located closest to the center in the left-rightdirection). The right edge 24 a is curved along the outer peripheraledge of the operation area AR, and is arcuate in shape.

The left edge 24 c of the face panel 24 is curved so as to surround aportion at the right side of the direction key 19. Specifically, theleft edge 24 c extends from a position on the right side of thedirection key 19 while being curved forward and leftward. A front end 24d of the left edge 24 c (the left end of the frontmost portion of theoperating member 22) is located forwardly of a most right-side portion19 a of the direction key 19. The left edge 24 c is curved along theouter peripheral edge of the operation area AL, and is arcuate in shape.

When the user slides his/her thumb in the front-rear direction whileholding the hold sections 10R and 10L, the locus of the thumb issubstantially an arc of a circle. The edges 24 a and 24 c of the facepanel 24 are provided at positions which can be reached by the user'sthumbs in a condition where the user is holding the hold sections 10Rand 10L. In addition, the curvatures of the edges 24 a and 24 bsubstantially agree with the loci of the thumbs. This permits the userto easily slide his/her thumbs forward along the edges 24 a and 24 cfrom the inside of the operation areas AR and AL, as indicated by arrowsER and EL in FIG. 8. Even in the case where the thumb slides beyond theright or left edge of the touch sensor 23, the user can press theprojecting part 24R or 24L.

As shown in FIG. 1, the upper surfaces of the operation areas AR and ALare located at positions slightly higher than the surrounding portions.At outer peripheral edges of the operation areas AR and AL are formedsteps 10 b which surround the operation areas AR and AL. The edges 24 aand 24 c of the face panel 24 are formed along the steps 10 b.Therefore, the user can move his/her fingers along the edges 24 a and 24c without looking at the operating member 22. The front surfaces (uppersurfaces) of the steps 10 b are inclined to become lower toward theoutside of the operation areas AR and AL. This permits the user tosmoothly move his/her fingers from the operation areas AR and AL towardthe operating member 22. In the example described here, the steps 10 bare formed in substantially annular shapes such as to surround theoperation areas AR and AL. The steps 10 b may not necessarily be formed.

As shown in FIG. 2, a front edge of the operating member 22, or a frontedge 24 e of the face panel 24, forms the front edge of the uppersurface of the central section 21. In other words, the upper surface ofthe upper housing half 41 of the operating device 1 which forms theouter shape of the central section 21 does not have any edge that islocated on the more front side than the front edge 24 e of the facepanel 24. The front edge 24 e of the face panel 24 is located at a frontsurface 21 a of the central section 21. According to this structure, aportion on which the user's finger might be caught is not present on thefront side of the front edge 24 e of the face panel 24; therefore, theuser can smoothly slide his/her fingers forward beyond the front edge 24e. In addition, the user can easily press the front edge 24 e of theface panel 24. Incidentally, the structure of the operating member 22 isnot restricted to the just-mentioned one; for example, the operatingmember 22 may be supported by a shaft on the rear side so that theoperating member 22 is lowered only on the front side.

The operating member 22 forms the upper surface of the central section21, as above-mentioned. The operating member 22 includes at a frontmostportion thereof a part which extends from the portion forming the uppersurface of the central section 21 and which forms a front surface of thecentral section 21. FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the face panel 24taken along line IX-IX of FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 9, a frontmostportion of the face panel 24 in this example is substantially L-shapedin section. Specifically, the face panel 24 has a front surface portion24 f which extends from the front edge 24 e and which forms the frontsurface of the central section 21. The upper housing half 41 of theoperating device 1 is formed with the opening 42 through which thesurface of the face panel 24 is exposed. A front edge 42 b of theopening 42 is located on the lower side of the face panel 24,specifically on the lower side of a lower edge of the front surfaceportion 24 f.

The upper housing half 41 is formed with a stopper portion whichregulates forward movement of the operating member 22. The stopperportion is formed, for example, at each of the left and the right of theoperating member 22. FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing oneexample of the internal structure of the operating device 1. In thefigure, back surfaces (lower surfaces) of the upper housing half 41 andthe operating member 22 are shown. As above-mentioned, the upper housinghalf 41 is formed with the opening 42. The upper housing half 41 isformed with two stopper portions 43 at the lower surface thereof. Thestopper portions 43 are formed at the left and the right of theoperating member 22. The two stopper portions 43 in this example are inthe shape of walls respectively present along a right-side end face 24 mand a left-side end face 24 n of the face panel 24. The face panel 24has to-be-stopped portions 24 p which project outward in the left-rightdirection from the end faces 24 m and 24 n. The to-be-stopped portions24 p are located on the rear side of rear ends 43 a of the stopperportions 43. When the operating member 22 is about to move forward, theto-be-stopped portions 24 p are abutted on the rear ends 43 a of thestopper portions 43, resulting in that forward movement of the operatingmember 22 is restrained by the stopper portions 43.

Thus, the stopper portions 43 are formed as part of the upper housinghalf 41 forming the outer surface of the operating device 1. Thisresults in that the tolerance of the position of the operating member 22relative to the upper housing half 41 is reduced, and the externalappearance of the operating device 1 can be enhanced. Besides, in thisexample, the to-be-stopped portions 24 p are formed as part of the facepanel 24 forming the outer surface of the operating device 1. Thisensures that the tolerance of the position of the face panel 24 relativeto the upper housing half 41 is reduced, and the external appearance ofthe operating device 1 can be further enhanced. In addition, thestructure wherein the to-be-stopped portions 24 p are formed at left andright edges of the face panel 24 enables the area of contact between theto-be-stopped portions 24 p and the upper housing half 41 to be reduced,as compared, for example, with a structure wherein the lower edge of thefront surface portion 24 f provided at the frontmost portion of the facepanel 24 functions as a to-be-stopped portion. As a result, resistanceagainst a user's operation of pressing down an operation panel 50 can bereduced. Incidentally, the positions of the stopper portions 43 and theto-be-stopped portions 24 p are not restricted to the above-mentionedones. For instance, the to-be-stopped portions 24 p may be provided atfrontmost portions of the right-side end face 24 m and the left-side endface 24 n of the face panel 24.

The operating member 22 is so supported as to be capable of verticalmovement when the operating member 22 is pressed, irrespectively of theposition of pressing. Specifically, when any of the front edge 24 e, arear edge 24 g, the right edge 24 a, the left edge 24 c, and portions onthe inner side of these edges of the face panel 24 is pressed, thepressed portion is lowered. On the back surface side of the operatingmember 22 are disposed a plurality of elastic members (for example,springs or rubber members) which generate a reaction force when theoperating member 22 is pressed.

In the example shown in FIG. 10, two elastic members 61 which bias theoperating member 22 upward are disposed on the back surface side of theoperating member 22. The elastic members 61 are attached, for example,to a circuit board 70 (described later) which is disposed on the backsurface side of the operating member 22. In addition, a configurationmay be adopted wherein a frame is disposed between the circuit board 70and the operating member 22, and the elastic members 61 are attached tothe frame.

The elastic members 61 in this example are formed of rubber. The elasticmembers 61 each have a cylindrical contact portion 61 a having a topface coming into contact with a lower surface of the operating member22. The elastic members 61 each have an annular elastic portion 61 bwhich surrounds a lower surface of the contact portion 61 a. When afront portion of the operating member 22 is pressed, the contactportions 61 a are tilted toward the front side, and, when a rear portionof the operating member 22 is pressed, the contact portions 61 a aretilted toward the rear side. When the contact portions 61 a are thustilted, the elastic portions 61 b exhibit forces which resist thetilting. In addition, the two elastic members 61 are located to bespaced from each other along the left-right direction. Therefore, thetwo elastic members 61 generate reaction forces when the operatingmember 22 is pressed, irrespectively of the position of pressing. Theoperating member 22 in the example shown in FIG. 10 has a frame 25 whichcovers a back surface (lower surface) of the touch sensor 23. Thecontact portions 61 a are in contact with a lower surface of the frame25. Incidentally, a rightmost portion and a leftmost portion of the facepanel 24 are located on the lower side of the left and right edges 24 aof the opening 42. An upward movement of the operating member 22 byelastic forces generated by the elastic members 61 is regulated by theleft and right edges 24 a.

On the back surface side of the operating member 22, a plurality ofsprings for biasing the operating member 22 upward may be disposed,instead of the elastic members 61. In this case, also, these springs areso disposed as to generate reaction forces when the operating member 22is pressed, irrespectively of the position of pressing. For instance,the springs are so disposed as to bias the operating member 22 upward,at four points which are spaced from one another in the front-reardirection and the left-right direction.

One of the lower surface of the operating member 22 and each of theelastic members 61 is formed with a projection, whereas the other isformed with a hole into which the projection is fitted. In the exampleillustrated in FIG. 10, the lower surface of the frame 25 is formed withprojections 25 b, whereas the contact portions 61 a of the elasticmembers 61 are formed with holes into which the projections 25 b arefitted. This structure ensures that even in the case where the positionof the operating member 22 is slightly shifted as a result of sliding ofa user's finger on the surface of the operating member 22, the operatingmember 22 is returned into its initial position by elastic forces of theelastic members 61.

On the back surface side of the operating member 22 is disposed thecircuit board 70. A switch 71 to be pressed by the operating member 22is disposed on the circuit board 70. The operating member 22 has apressing part 25 a at a central portion of the lower surface thereof(more specifically, the lower surface of the frame 25). Theabove-mentioned elastic members 61 are disposed on the left and theright of the pressing part 25 a. When part of an outer peripheralportion of the operating member 22 is pressed, the operating member 22is tilted. For example, when a right-side part of the operating member22 is pressed, the right-side part is lowered, so that the operatingmember 22 is tilted. With the operating member 22 thus tilted, theposition of the pressing part 25 a is lowered, so that the pressing part25 a presses the switch 71. In short, the operating member 22 can pressthe switch 71 when its surface is pressed at any position thereof. Inother words, when the operating member 22 is pressed by the user at anyposition thereof, the operating device 1 can detect the user'soperation, based on an output signal from the switch.

As above-mentioned, the face panel 24 has the front surface portion 24f. The front surface portion 24 f enables an increase in rigidity of thefrontmost portion of the face panel 24. This makes it possible torestrain the face panel 24 from bending when the face panel 24 ispressed by the user. As a result, even when part of an outer peripheralportion of the face panel 24 is pressed by the user, the pressing-downoperation is clearly transmitted to the switch 71. The face panel 24 inthis example has downwardly extending portions at the right side and theleft side thereof. More in detail, the face panel 24 has downwardlyextending side surface portions 24 r at the front end of the right-sideend face 24 m and at the front end of the left-side end face 24 n. Thisenables a further increase in the rigidity of the face panel 24. Inaddition, the operating member 22 has the frame 25 on the back surfaceside thereof. The frame 25 permits a further enhancement of the rigidityof the operating member 22.

The operating device 1 has left and right operating sticks 31 at rearportions of the central section 21 (see FIG. 3). As shown in FIG. 1, theoperating sticks 31 extend upward from the central section 21, and eachhave at the upper end thereof a circular to-be-operated portion 31 b tobe touched by a user's finger. The height of the operating membersprovided at the upper surfaces of the hold sections 10R and 10L (namely,the operating buttons 11 and the direction key 19) is smaller than theheight (length) of the operating sticks 31. The operating stick 31 can,for example, be tilted in the radial direction thereof and be rotated ina tilted state. The operating device 1 detects the tilting direction andthe amount of tilting of each of the operating sticks 31, and transmitssignals corresponding to the detection results to the informationprocessing apparatus. Besides, the operating sticks 31 may each beslidable in the radial direction thereof. In this case, the operatingdevice 1 detects moving amounts of the operating sticks 31 in prescribedmutually orthogonal two directions (for example, moving amounts in thefront-rear direction and moving amounts in the left-right direction),and transmits signals corresponding to the detection results to theinformation processing apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 3, the operating member 22 is provided at a frontportion of the upper surface of the central section 21. The left andright operating sticks 31 are located on the rear side of the operatingmember 22. The right edge 24 a and the left edge 24 c of the face panel24 are located on the front side of the operating sticks 31. This layoutrestrains the operating sticks 31 from obstructing the sliding of afinger or fingers along the edges 24 a and 24 c (see FIG. 8). In thisexample, the front end of the right edge 24 a, or the right end 24 b ofthe frontmost portion of the face panel 24, is located rightwardly ofthe center C of the right operating stick 31. The front end of the leftedge 24 c, or the left end 24 d of the frontmost portion of the facepanel 24, is located leftwardly of the center C of the left operatingstick 31.

As shown in FIG. 6, the grips 12 obliquely extend rearward and downwardfrom the front portions of the hold sections 10R and 10L. The holdsections 10R and 10L have projecting parts 10 c projecting forward anddownward from front surfaces thereof. The projecting part 10 c isprovided with operating buttons 15 and 16. This shape facilitates themanner of holding the hold sections 10R and 10L by placing the indexfingers on the operating buttons 15 and 16 and placing the thumbs on theoperating member 22 while gripping the grips 12.

Incidentally, the operating device 1 may be so formed that the operatingmember 22 is horizontal when the operating device 1 is placed on ahorizontal plane. Specifically, the shape of the projecting parts 10 c(the height of lower ends 10 d of the projecting parts 10 c) and theshape of the grips 12 (the height of lower ends 12 b of rearmostportions of the grips 12) may be so set that a plane containing thelower ends 12 b and the lower ends 10 d is parallel to the operatingmember 22. This setting ensures that fingers can be easily slid on theoperating member 22 even in a condition where the operating device 1 isplaced on a horizontal plane. At the lower ends 12 b of the grips 12 andthe lower ends 10 d of the projecting parts 10 c, there may be providedmembers (for example, rubber members) for protecting these lower ends 12b and 10 d. This makes it possible to prevent the lower ends 12 b and 10d from being marred.

The operating buttons 15 and 16 provided at the projecting part 10 c arealigned with each other along the vertical direction. The operatingbutton 15 is, for example, a button capable of on-off operations. Theoperating button 16 is, for example, an analog button capable ofdetecting the user's pressing amount. As shown in FIG. 3, the front edge24 e of the operating member 22 is located on the rear side relative tothe operating buttons 15 and 16.

The central section 21 incorporates a speaker therein. The speaker islocated between the left and right operating sticks 31. As shown in FIG.1, the upper surface of the central section 21 has sound-passing holes21 c at a position corresponding to the speaker. This layout of thespeaker and the sound-passing holes 21 c permits the user to easily heara sound outputted by the operating device 1. Incidentally, a microphonemay be disposed at the position of the sound-passing holes 21 c, inplace of the speaker.

As shown in FIG. 1, an operating button 21 f to be used at acomparatively low frequency is disposed between the left and rightoperating sticks 31. The operating button 21 f is used, for example, forreturning a display connected to the information processing apparatus toa home image (for instance, a menu image for selection of a software tobe executed by the information processing apparatus).

As above-mentioned, the plurality of (in this example, four) operatingbuttons 11 are disposed at the upper surface of the front portion of thehold section 10R. As shown in FIG. 4, the hold section 10R incorporatestherein a plurality of (in this example, four) light emitting elements13 corresponding respectively to the plurality of operating buttons 11(in FIG. 4, the light emitting elements 13 are indicated by solidcircles for clarification). The light emitting elements 13 are, forexample, light emitting diodes. In one example, the operating device 1changes the turned-on state of the light emitting elements 13 accordingto the operating conditions of the information processing apparatus andthe operating device 1. For instance, in the case where the informationprocessing apparatus demands the user to press the operating button 11,the operating device 1 turns on the light emitting element 13corresponding to the operating button 11 demanded to be pressed, orcauses this light emitting element 13 to blink. The plurality of lightemitting elements 13 shine in different colors, for example. The colorsof the light emitting elements 13 may change according to the operatingconditions of the operating device 1 and/or the information processingapparatus. The operating device 1 may keep the light emitting element orelements 13 on whenever the operating device 1 is operating (whenever apower source is on).

As shown in FIG. 4, the light emitting elements 13 are disposed not atthe operating buttons 11 themselves but adjacently to the operatingbuttons 11. Specifically, the plurality of light emitting elements 13are disposed at mutually spaced positions such as to surround the wholegroup of the plurality of operating buttons 11. This layout of the lightemitting elements 13 ensures that the user can see the light of thelight emitting element or elements 13 even when the operating button orbuttons 11 are hidden behind a user's finger. In this example, the fourlight emitting elements 13 are arranged on the circumference of a circlesurrounding the four operating buttons 11. To be more specific, thelight emitting elements 13 are arranged on the outer peripheral edge ofthe operation area AR. Each of the light emitting elements 13 is locatedon the outside in the radial direction of the operation area AR,relative to the corresponding operating button 11. This layout of thelight emitting elements 13 permits the user to clearly recognize thecorrespondence between the light emitting elements 13 and the operatingbuttons 11.

As shown in FIG. 4, the hold section 10R has a light guide member 14 atthe upper surface thereof (in FIG. 4, the light guide member 14 iscross-hatched for clarification). The light emitting elements 13 aredisposed on the lower side (back side) of the light guide member 14, andthe light guide member 14 transmits therethrough the light of the lightemitting elements 13 to the upper surface of the hold section 10R. Thelight guide member 14 is a single member so shaped as to surround theplurality of operating buttons 11. This structure including the lightguide member 14 enables a reduction in the number of component parts, ascompared with a structure wherein mutually independent light guidemembers are provided respectively for the light emitting elements 13.The light guide member 14 in this example is substantially annular inshape, and is disposed along the outer peripheral edge of the operationarea AR. To be more specific, the light guide member 14 is arranged onthe inner side of the step 10 b.

The light emitting elements 13 and the light guide member 14 may beprovided also at the hold section 10L on the left side. In that case,the plurality of light emitting elements 13 are so arranged as tosurround the direction key 19, and correspond respectively to four endportions of the direction key 19.

As above-mentioned, the hold sections 10R and 10L have projecting parts10 c at the front surfaces thereof. As shown in FIG. 2, a light emittingpart 28 is provided at the front surface 21 a of the central section 21.The light emitting part 28 is located between the left and rightprojecting parts 10 c. This layout of the light emitting part 28 ensuresthat the light emitting part 28 can be prevented from being hiddenbehind the user's hand or finger in the condition where the user isholding the hold sections 10R and 10L.

The information processing apparatus acquires the light of the lightemitting part 28 through a camera connected to the informationprocessing apparatus. The information processing apparatus processes animage obtained through the camera, and detects the position of theoperating device 1 on the basis of the position and/or size of the lightemitting part 28 in the image acquired. For instance, in the case wherea plurality of users respectively use a plurality of operating devices 1and respectively operate a plurality of objects (characters) displayedon a screen, the positions of the objects and the positions of theoperating devices 1 can be made to correspond to each other. Forexample, the object relevant to the user operating the operating device1 on the right side can be displayed on the right side, whereas theobject relevant to the user operating the operating device 1 on the leftside can be displayed on the left side. The light emitting part 28 canshine in arbitrary colors. For instance, the light emitting part 28includes red, green and blue light emitting elements (e.g., lightemitting diodes), and the brilliance of each of the light emittingelements are controlled so that the light emitting part 28 shines in acolor designated by the information processing apparatus or in a coloraccording to the operating conditions of the operating device 1. Thisensures that even where a plurality of operating devices 1 are usedsimultaneously, the information processing apparatus can detect thepositions of the operating devices 1.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the light emitting part 28 is shaped to beelongate in the left-right direction. This enables the color of thelight emitting part 28 to be easily discriminated from other lightspresent in the image acquired through the camera. As a result, theposition detection performance of the operating device 1 can beenhanced. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the light emitting part 28 isin the shape of a rod extending rectilinearly. This shape ensures thatthe shape of the light emitting part 28 in the image obtained by thecamera can be restrained from varying depending on the attitude of theoperating device 1. Specifically, in the case where the operating device1 is disposed obliquely relative to the camera, the light emitting part28 in the image acquired by the camera does not change in shape althoughit changes in length. Consequently, the performance of positiondetection by the operating device 1 through the camera can be enhanced.Incidentally, the shape of the light emitting part 28 is not restrictedto the just-mentioned one; for example, the light emitting part 28 maybe V-shaped or may be curved in an arcuate shape.

As shown in FIG. 2, the light emitting part 28 has a light diffusingmember 28 a which is located at a front surface of the central section21 and is elongated in the left-right direction. The length of the lightdiffusing member 28 a in the left-right direction is greater than thewidth of the light diffusing member 28 a in the vertical direction (seeFIG. 5). The above-mentioned light emitting elements are disposed on therear side of the light diffusing member 28 a. The light diffusing member28 a transmits the lights of the light emitting elements to the frontsurface of the central section 21. This ensures that the whole body ofthe light emitting part 28 shines substantially uniformly, in the casewhere a single light emitting element is disposed on the rear side ofthe light diffusing member 28 a or even in the case where a plurality oflight emitting elements are arranged dispersedly in the left-rightdirection.

As shown in FIG. 2, the light diffusing member 28 a projects forwardfrom the front surface 21 a of the central section 21. Therefore, alight emitting surface of the light diffusing member 28 a includes notonly a forwardly oriented portion but also an upwardly oriented portionand a downwardly oriented portion. This facilitates acquisition of thelight of the light emitting part 28 by the camera. Since the lightdiffusing member 28 a projects from the front surface 21 a of thecentral section 21, the light diffusing member 28 a can be looked ateven when the operating device 1 is seen in a plan-view manner, as shownin FIG. 3. Therefore, the user can check the light emitting condition ofthe light emitting part 28 (whether the light emitting part 28 isemitting light or not, or the color) while holding the operating device1. As above-mentioned, the front edge of the plate-shaped operatingmember 22 (more specifically, the front edge 24 e of the face panel 24)forms the front edge of the upper surface of the central section 21 ofthe operating device 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the light emitting part 28is located forwardly of the front edge 24 e of the face panel 24.Therefore, the user can visually confirm the light of the light emittingpart 28 even when pressing the front edge 24 e of the face panel 24. Inaddition, the camera can catch the light of the light emitting part 28,without any hindrance by the user's finger or fingers. Incidentally, thelight diffusing member 28 a may not necessarily project forward.

As shown in FIG. 2, the projection amount of the light diffusing member28 a is smaller than the projection amount of the projecting parts 10 ceach provided with the operating buttons 15 and 16. Therefore, externalforces can be prevented from acting on the light diffusing member 28 afrom the right side or the left side of the light diffusing member 28 a.In other words, the light diffusing member 28 a can be protected by theprojecting parts 10 c. The front surface 21 a of the central section 21is provided with protuberant parts 21 d which are located at the leftand the right of the light diffusing member 28 a. The light diffusingmember 28 a and the protuberant parts 21 d form a series of protrudingparts extending in the left-right direction. The series of protrudingparts is continuous with base portions of the left and right projectingparts 10 c each provided with the operating buttons 15 and 16. Thisensures that external forces can be effectively prevented from beingexerted on the light diffusing member 28 a. Incidentally, aconfiguration may be adopted wherein the central section 21 is notprovided with such protuberant parts 21 d, and end portions of the lightdiffusing member 28 a are continuous with the base portions of theprojecting parts 10 c.

As shown in FIG. 2, a connector 33 is provided at the front surface ofthe central section 21. To the connector 33 is connected, for example, acable for interconnecting the operating device 1 and the informationprocessing apparatus. The connector 33 is located on the lower side ofthe light diffusing member 28 a. As above-mentioned, the light diffusingmember 28 a is shaped to extend in the left-right direction, andprojects forward. Therefore, an end portion of the cable can beprotected by the light diffusing member 28 a in the condition where thecable is connected to the connector 33.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, a connector 34 is provided at a rear surfaceof the central section 21. To the connector 34 is connected, forexample, a cable of headphones or earphones. In addition, other devicefor extending the function of the operating device 1 may be connected tothe connector 34.

As shown in FIG. 1, the hold sections 10R and 10L respectively haveoperating buttons 17R and 17L on the rear side of the operating members(the operating buttons 11 and the direction key 19) provided in theoperation areas AR and AL. The operating buttons 17R and 17L are buttonsthat are used less frequently than such operating members as theoperating sticks 31, the operating buttons 11 and the direction key 19.For instance, the operating buttons 17R and 17L function as a selectbutton for selecting one of choices displayed in a menu image or a startbutton for designating the starting of a game. In addition, theoperating buttons 17R and 17L may be short-cut buttons for designatingexecution of a specified function. The specified function here is, forexample, a function of transmitting game data or a user's comment to aspecified server on a network.

As shown in FIG. 3, the operating button 17R on the right side islocated on the outer side in the left-right direction (namely, on theright side) relative to the operating stick 31 on the right side.Specifically, the operating button 17R intersects a straight line L2extending in the left-right direction while passing through theoperating stick 31. Similarly, the operating button 17L on the left sideis located on the outer side in the left-right direction (namely, on theleft side) relative to the operating stick 31 on the left side. Theheight of the operating buttons 17R and 17L is smaller than the heightof the operating sticks 31. This ensures that a finger operating theoperating stick 31 can be prevented from erroneously pressing theoperating button 17R or 17L.

The operating buttons 17R and 17L are located on the further outer sidesof the steps 10 b formed along the outer peripheral edges of theoperation areas AR and AL. Specifically, the operating buttons 17R and17L are located on the rear side of the steps 10 b. As shown in FIG. 7,the height of the operating buttons 17R and 17L is smaller than theheight of the steps 10 b, namely, than the height of the upper surfacesof the front portions of the hold sections 10R and 10L relative to theupper surfaces of the grips 12. This ensures that a finger operating theoperating member provided in the operation area AR or AL can beprevented from erroneously pressing the operating button 17R or 17L. Theupper surfaces of the operating buttons 17R and 17L in this example areeach flush with the upper surface of the grip 12.

As shown in FIG. 3, the operating buttons 17R and 17L are shaped to beelongate in the left-right direction. This enables the user to easilypress the operating buttons 17R and 17L. Front edges 17 a of theoperating buttons 17R and 17L are curved along the outer peripheries ofthe operation areas AR and AL (see FIG. 4). This enables narrowing ofthe spacing between the operating button 17R or 17L and the step 10 b.As a result, the user can easily press the operating buttons 17R and 17Lwhen it is necessary to operate the operating buttons 17R and 17L.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the operating buttons 17R and 17L are eachlocated with an offset toward the center in the left-right direction, ortoward the operating stick 31, in relation to a center line L3 of thegrip 12 that extends along the extending direction of the grip 12. Inother words, the operating button 17R on the right side is located witha leftward offset in relation to the center line L3, whereas theoperating button 17L on the left side is located with a rightward offsetin relation to the center line L3. This ensures that a hand gripping thegrip 12 and a finger operating the operating stick 31 would not easilytouch the operating button 17R or 17L. As shown in FIG. 1, at rearportions of the central section 21 are provided hollow cylindrical parts21 e for accommodating base portions of the operating sticks 31 therein.Inside edges 17 b of the operating buttons 17R and 17L (a left edge ofthe right-side operating button 17R and a right edge of the left-sideoperating button 17L) are located close to the hollow cylindrical parts21 e, and are curved along the outer peripheries of the hollowcylindrical parts 21 e. As shown in FIG. 3, outside edges 17 c of theoperating buttons 17R and 17L (a right edge of the right-side operatingbutton 17R and a left edge of the left-side operating button 17L) aremore inclined relative to the center line L3 than the inside edges 17 b.This ensures more securely that a hand gripping the grip 12 would noteasily touch the operating button 17R or 17L.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, the left and right grips 12 are each providedwith an operating button 35. The operating buttons 35 are provided atinside surfaces of the left and right grips 12. Specifically, theoperating buttons 35 are provided respectively at the right side surfaceof the left-side grip 12 and at the left side surface of the right-sidegrip 12. This layout of the operating buttons 35 enables the user topress the operating button 35 with a finger for gripping the grip (forexample, with the third finger). The operating buttons 35 are shaped tobe elongate in the vertical direction. This permits the user to pressthe operating button 35 more easily.

Second Example of Operating Device

FIGS. 11 and 12 are perspective views of an operating device 101 as asecond example. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an upper side of theoperating device 101, and FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a front side ofthe operating device 101. FIG. 13 is a plan view of the operating device101, and FIG. 14 is a front view of the operating device 101. FIG. 15 isa side view of the operating device 101. FIG. 16 is a back elevation ofthe operating device 101. FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a mode ofuse of the operating device 101. In these drawings, the same parts asthose of the operating device 1 above are denoted by the same referencesymbols as above. In the following, description will be made mainly ofdifferences from the operating device 1, and items which will not bedescribed are the same as those in the operating device 1.

As shown in FIG. 11, the operating device 101 has hold sections 110L and110R and a central section 121, like the operating device 1. At uppersurfaces of front portions of the hold sections 110L and 110R, operatingsticks 31 are provided in place of the operating buttons 11 and thedirection key 19. The operating buttons 11 and the direction key 19 areprovided at rear portions of an upper surface of the central section121, and are located on the rear side relative to the operating sticks31.

As shown in FIG. 13, the operating device 101 has an operating member122 corresponding to the above-mentioned operating member 22, at theupper surface of the central section 121. The operating member 122includes a touch sensor 23 and a face panel 124. The face panel 124 inthis example is rectangular in shape, like the touch sensor 23, and hasa lateral width substantially equal to that of the touch sensor 23. Theoperating member 122 is located between the operating members possessedby the left and right hold sections 110L and 110R (in this example,between the operating sticks 31). The operating member 122 is sosupported as to be capable of vertical movement in response to a user'spressing-down operation, and functions also as a button capable ofon-off operations. Like the operating member 22, the operating member122 is so supported as to be capable of vertical movement when theoperating member 122 is pressed, irrespectively of the position ofpressing. Incidentally, the structure of the operating member 122 is notrestricted to the just-mentioned one; for example, a front edge of theoperating member 122 may be supported by a shaft so that only a rearportion of the operating member 122 will be lowered.

The operating member 122 is plate-like in shape, which makes it possibleto reduce the distance between a right edge 124 a of the operatingmember 122 and the right-side operating stick 31 as well as the distancebetween a left edge 124 d of the operating member 122 and the left-sideoperating stick 31. In addition, the distances between the operatingmember 122 and the operating members disposed on the rear side thereof(specifically, the operating buttons 11 and the direction key 19) canalso be reduced. As a result, the user can easily operate the operatingmember 122 while holding the hold sections 110R and 110L.

As shown in FIG. 13, the central section 121 has at the upper surface ofa rear portion thereof operation areas BR and BL in which the operatingbuttons 11 and the direction key 19 are disposed respectively. Theoperation areas BR and BL are located on the rear side of the operatingmember 122. A rightmost portion 124 i of a rear edge 124 g of the facepanel 124 is formed along the outer peripheral edge of the operationarea BR. A leftmost portion 124 h is formed along the outer peripheraledge of the operation area BL. The rear edge 124 g of the face panel124, or the rear edge of the operating member 122, is close to the outerperipheral edges of the operation areas BR and BL. Therefore, as shownin FIG. 17, the user can easily touch the operating member 122 byobliquely extending a finger disposed on the operation area BR or BLtoward the center in the left-right direction of the operating device101. Thus, since the operating members (the operating buttons 11 and thedirection key 19) small in height are disposed on the rear side of theoperating member 22, the user can easily touch the rear portion of theoperating member 122, particularly. The front edge of the operatingmember 122 may be supported by a shaft so that only the rear portion ofthe operating member 122 will be lowered, as above-mentioned.

Like in the case of the operating member 22, a front edge of theoperating member 122, or a front edge 124 e of the face panel 124, formsa front edge of the upper surface of the central section 121. In otherwords, as shown in FIG. 12, an upper surface of an upper housing half141 of the operating device 101 that forms the central section 21 doesnot have any edge that is located on the further front side of the frontedge 124 e of the face panel 124. The front edge 124 e of the face panel124 is located at a front surface 121 a of the central section 121. Afrontmost portion of the face panel 124 in this example is substantiallyL-shaped in section, like in the case of the face panel 24.Specifically, the face panel 124 has a front surface portion 124 fextending downward from the front edge 124 e thereof. A front edge of anopening formed in the upper housing half 141 so as to expose the facepanel 124 therethrough is located on the lower side of the front surfaceportion 124 f, like in the example shown in FIG. 9.

As shown in FIG. 12, the front surface 121 a of the central section 121has an upper portion 121 d which protrudes forward largely, as comparedwith a lower portion 121 e thereof. This enables an increase in thewidth in the front-rear direction of the upper surface of the centralsection 121. As a result, the width in the front-rear direction of theoperating member 122 can be increased.

At the outer peripheral edges of the operation areas BR and BL areformed steps 121 j (see FIGS. 11 and 14), like in the case of theoperation areas AR and AL possessed by the operating device 1. The rearedge 124 g of the face panel 124 is located on the front side of thesteps 121 j. Therefore, the user can recognize that a user's finger islocated as such a position as to touch the operating member 122, withoutlooking at the operating member 122. Specifically, the user canrecognize that a user's finger is disposed at a rear portion of theoperating member 122. Surfaces (upper surfaces) of the steps 121 j areso inclined as to become lower along the directions toward the outersides of the operation areas BR and BL. Incidentally, on the inner sideof the step 121 j of the operation area BR provided with the operatingbuttons 11, there are provided an annular light guide member 14 andlight emitting elements (not shown), like in the case of the operatingdevice 1.

Like the operating device 1, the operating device 101 has a lightemitting part 128 at the front surface 121 a of the central section 121.The light emitting part 128 is located between the left and rightprojecting parts 10 c formed at front surfaces of the hold sections 110Rand 110L (see FIG. 14). The light emitting part 128 in this example isin the shape of a rod extending rectilinearly in the left-rightdirection, like the light emitting part 28.

A light diffusing member 128 a of the light emitting part 128 projectsforward, relative to the lower portion 121 e of the front surface 121 aof the central section 121. More in detail, the upper portion 121 d ofthe front surface 121 a of the central section 121 projects forward morelargely than the lower portion 121 e. As shown in FIG. 12, the lightdiffusing member 128 a forms a lowermost part of the upper portion 121d. Specifically, the upper portion 121 d is formed with a recess at thelowermost portion thereof, and the light emitting part 128 is fitted inthe recess. The light diffusing member 128 a of the light emitting part128 includes, as its light emitting surface, a lower surface foremitting light downward and a front surface for emitting light forward.Therefore, the light emitting surface has an enlarged area, and itbecomes easy for a camera to catch the light of the light emitting part128.

The front surface of the light emitting part 128 is flush with the frontsurface of the upper portion 121 d of the central section 121.Therefore, exertion of forces on the light diffusing member 128 a fromthe upper side can be prevented. In addition, since the above-mentionedprojecting parts 10 c are located on the right side and the left side ofthe light diffusing member 128 a, forces in the left-right direction canbe prevented from acting on the light diffusing member 128 a.

The connector 33 is provided at the lower portion 121 e of the frontsurface 121 a of the central section 121, as shown in FIG. 14. Theconnector 33 is located on the lower side of the light emitting part128. Therefore, the upper side of an end portion of a cable connected tothe connector 33 can be protected by the light emitting part 128.

As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, a housing 140 of the operating device 101has the upper housing half 141 shaped to open downward and a lowerhousing half 142 shaped to open upward. The housing halves are combinedwith each other in the vertical direction. The hold sections 110R and110L and the central section 121 are formed by the housing halves 141and 142. The hold sections 110R and 110L each have a belt-shaped wallmember 143 (in FIGS. 15 and 16, the wall member 143 is crosshatched forclarification). The wall member 143 is disposed between a lower edge 141a of the upper housing half 141 and an upper edge 142 a of the lowerhousing half 142, and forms part of a side surface of the hold section110R or 110L. In the hold section 110R on the right side, the wallmember 143 extends from a right side surface (a surface on the outerside in the left-right direction) of a front portion of the hold section110R, and extends past a right side surface of a grip 112 and a rear endof the grip 112, to reach a left side surface (a surface on the innerside in the left-right direction) of the grip 112. In the hold section110L on the left side, the wall member 143 extends from a left sidesurface (a surface on the outer side in the left-right direction) of afront portion of the hold section 110L, and extends past a left sidesurface of the grip 112 and the rear end of the grip 112, to reach aright side surface (a surface on the inner side in the left-rightdirection) of the grip 112. This configuration makes it possible toobviate a situation wherein the edges 141 a and 142 a of the housinghalves 141 and 142 are located at such positions that user's handsholding the hold sections 110R and 110L might easily touch the edges 141a and 142 a. Consequently, the feeling obtained when the user is holdingthe hold sections 110R and 110L can be enhanced.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 16, operating buttons 135 are provided at theinner-side surfaces of the left and right grips 112. Like the wallmembers 143, the operating buttons 135 are each located between thelower edge 141 a of the upper housing half 141 and the upper edge 142 aof the lower housing half 142. In addition, the operating button 135 hasa vertical width substantially equal to that of the wall member 143, andis located in the extending direction of the wall member 143 in relationto the wall member 143. This structure ensures that the operatingbuttons 135 are not conspicuous, so that the external appearance of theoperating device 101 can be enhanced. Besides, the operating buttons 135are flush with the housing halves 141 and 142. This makes it possible toprevent any of fingers gripping the grips 112 from pressing theoperating button 135 by mistake.

As shown in FIG. 11, operating buttons 117R and 117L corresponding tothe above-mentioned operating buttons 17R and 17L are provided at thehold sections 110R and 110L. The operating buttons 117R and 117L arelocated on the rear side of the operating members (in this example, theoperating sticks 31) provided at front portions of the hold sections110R and 110L. In addition, the operating buttons 117R and 117L arelocated on the outer sides in the left-right direction, relative to theoperating members (in this example, the operating buttons 11 and thedirection key 19) provided at rear portions of the central section 121.As shown in FIG. 13, the operating buttons 117R and 117L are locatedwith a forward offset in relation to the operating buttons 11 and thedirection key 19. In other words, the operating buttons 117R and 117Lare located on the front side relative to the centers C of the operatingbuttons 11 and of the direction key 19.

As shown in FIG. 16, the positions of upper surfaces of the operatingbuttons 11 and an upper surface of the direction key 19 are below thepositions of upper surfaces of the operating sticks 31. The positions ofupper surfaces of the operating buttons 117R and 117L are further belowthe positions of the upper surfaces of the operating buttons 11 and theupper surface of the direction key 19. Therefore, the operating buttons117R and 117L can be prevented from being pressed by mistake during whenthe operating buttons 11 and/or the direction key 19 is being operated.

As shown in FIG. 11, the hold sections 110R and 110L in this examplehave slightly recessed recesses 110 f in the upper surfaces of frontportions thereof. Specifically, arcuate frame parts 110 g surroundingthe operating sticks 31 are formed in the peripheries of the operatingsticks 31. In addition, portions on the inner side of the frame parts110 g are recessed. The operating buttons 117R and 117L are provided inthe recesses 110 f. Therefore, the height of the operating buttons 117Rand 117L, or a projection amount of the operating buttons 117R and 117Lfrom the recesses 110 f, can be secured while adopting the structurewherein the positions of the upper surfaces of the operating buttons117R and 117L are set lower than the positions of the upper surfaces ofthe operating buttons 11 and the upper surface of the direction key 19.

Third Example of Operating Device

FIGS. 18 to 21 are diagrams showing an operating device 101 as a thirdexample. FIG. 18 is a plan view. FIG. 19 is a perspective view. FIG. 20is a front view. FIG. 21 is a bottom view. In these drawings, the sameparts as those of the operating device 1 above are denoted by the samereference symbols as above. In the following, description will be mademainly of differences from the operating device 1, and items which willnot be described are the same as those in the operating device 1.

As shown in FIG. 18, the operating device 201 has a plate-shapedoperating member 222 at the upper surface of the central section 21.Like the operating member 22, the operating member 222 includes a touchsensor 223 and a face panel 224. The touch sensor 223 is located betweenthe operating members possessed by the left and right hold sections 10Land 10R (namely, between the operating buttons 11 and the direction key19). The operating member 222 is so supported as to be capable ofvertical movement according to a user's pressing-down operation. Theface panel 224 in this example is rectangular in shape, and has alateral width substantially equal to that of the touch sensor 223. Inthis example, a surface of the face panel 224 and surfaces of operationareas CR and CL, in which the operating buttons 11 and the direction key19 are respectively disposed, are located on the same plane. In otherwords, unlike the operating device 1, the operating device 201 does nothave any step around the operation areas CR and CL.

As shown in FIG. 19, like the operating member 22, the operating member222 includes a portion forming the upper surface of the central section21 and a portion forming the front surface 21 a of the central section21. Specifically, a front edge of the operating member 222 (namely, afront edge of the face panel 224) forms the front edge of the uppersurface of the central section 21. A frontmost portion of the face panel224 in this example is substantially L-shaped in section, and the facepanel 224 has a front surface portion 224 f extending downward from thefront edge thereof.

As shown in FIG. 18, the operating device 201 has, on the right side andthe left side of the operating member 222, operating buttons 217R and217L having the same functions as those of the above-mentioned operatingbuttons 17R and 17L. The operating buttons 217R and 217L are locatedbetween the four operating buttons 11 and the direction key 19, and arelocated on the front side relative to the four operating buttons 11 andthe direction key 19. Therefore, the user can operate the operatingbutton 217R by stretching a finger disposed on one of the operatingbuttons 11, while holding the hold section 10R. Similarly, the user canoperate the operating button 217L by stretching a finger disposed on thedirection key 19, while holding the hold section 10L. Upper surfaces ofthe operating buttons 217R and 217L are not projecting relative to thesurface of the face panel 224. The upper surfaces of the operatingbuttons 217R and 217L in this example are located on the same plane asthe surface of the face panel 224. Therefore, the user can be preventedfrom pressing any of the operating buttons 217R and 217L by mistake,when operating the operating member 22.

As above-mentioned, the hold sections 10R and 10L have the projectingparts 10 c at the front surfaces thereof. As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20,the operating device 201 has a light emitting part 228 at the frontsurface 21 a of the central section 21. The light emitting part 228 islocated between the left and right projecting parts 10 c. The lightemitting part 228 is shaped to be elongate in the left-right direction,in front view. Left and right edges of the light emitting part 228 arespaced more from the projecting parts 10 c than in the case of theabove-described light emitting part 28. Therefore, during when the useris operating the operating buttons 15 and 16 provided at the projectingparts 10 c, interception of the light of the light emitting part 228 bya user's finger or fingers can be restrained more effectively.

As shown in FIG. 20, the width in the left-right direction of the lightemitting part 228 in this example is smaller than the width in theleft-right direction of the operating member 22. A rightmost portion anda leftmost portion of the operating member 22 are located respectivelyrightwardly of and leftwardly of the light emitting part 228. When theuser presses the rightmost portion or the leftmost portion of theoperating member 22 while holding the operating device 201 so that thefront side of the operating device 201 is set lower, the tip of a user'sfinger may be stretched beyond the front edge of the operating member22. Even in such a case, interception of the light of the light emittingpart 228 by the user's finger can be restrained, since the width in theleft-right direction of the light emitting part 228 is smaller than thatof the operating member 22. Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 19, like theoperating device 1, the operating device 201 has the protuberant parts21 d at the front surface 21 a of the central section 21. The lightemitting part 228 and the protuberant parts 21 d form a series ofprotruding parts 221 e extending in the left-right direction. The seriesof protruding parts 221 e is continuous with the left and rightprojecting parts 10 c.

The protruding parts 221 e protrude to the more front side than thefront edge of the operating member 222 (more specifically, the frontsurface portion 224 f of the face panel 224). A rear edge 228 d of thelight emitting part 228 is located on the more front side than the frontedge of the operating member 222, as shown in FIG. 18. In other words,the front edge of the operating member 222 is located rearwardly of therear edge 228 d of the light emitting part 228. Therefore, even in thecase where a user's finger is placed on the front edge of the operatingmember 222, the user's finger can be prevented from obstructing theacquisition of the light of the light emitting part 228 by a camera.Particularly, in this example, a base portion 221 f of the protrudingparts 221 e is also located forwardly of the front edge of the operatingmember 222, in plan view of the operating device 201. Therefore, it ispossible to more effectively prevent the user's finger from obstructingthe acquisition of the light of the light emitting part 228 by thecamera. Incidentally, the front edge of the operating member 222 may beso provided as to overlap with the base portion 221 f of the protrudingparts 221 e, in plan view.

As shown in FIG. 20, the light emitting part 228 has a width W2 in thevertical direction which is greater than that of the light emitting part28. The width W2 of the light emitting part 228 in this examplecorresponds to the vertical width of the front surface 21 a of thecentral section 21. To be more specific, the width W2 of the lightemitting part 228 corresponds to the spacing between a lower edge of thefront surface 21 a of the central section 21 (namely, a front edge 221Lof a lower surface 221 g described later) and the front edge of theoperating member 22 (in this example, a lower edge of the front surfaceportion 224 f of the face panel 224). In other words, the light emittingpart 28 makes the most of the vertical width of the front surface 21 a.In this example, the protruding parts 221 e have a vertical widthcorresponding to the vertical width of the front surface 21 a of thecentral section 21; more specifically, the protruding parts 221 e have avertical width substantially equal to the vertical width of the frontsurface 21 a. The light emitting part 228 is provided over the rangefrom an upper edge (base portion 221 f) to a lower edge of theprotruding parts 221 e. Since the light emitting part 228 thus has acomparatively large vertical width, the camera provided for theinformation processing apparatus can readily capture the light of thelight emitting part 228. The light emitting part 228 has at a frontsurface thereof a light diffusing member having the same function asthat of the light diffusing member 28 a of the light emitting part 28.Therefore, the whole part of the front surface of the light emittingpart 228 emits light.

The light emitting part 228 is provided at the protruding parts 221 e,and projects forward from the front surface 21 a of the central section21. As shown in FIG. 18, the projection width of the light emitting part228 in this example is substantially equal to the projection width W3 ofthe projecting parts 10 c provided at the hold sections 10R and 10L. Inother words, the position in the front-rear direction of the front endof the light emitting part 228 is substantially coincident with that offront ends 10 e of the projecting parts 10 c, in plan view of theoperating device 201. Therefore, even in the case where the operatingdevice 201 is held by the user in the state of being inclined to theright side or the left side, the projecting parts 10 c can be restrainedfrom intercepting the light of the light emitting part 228.Incidentally, the front surface of the light emitting part 228 is curvedin an arcuate shape. In this example, the light emitting part 228 issemicircular in section orthogonal to the extending direction of thelight emitting part 228. Therefore, even in the case where the operatingdevice 201 is held in an oblique attitude, a variation in the shape ofthe light emitting part 228 as recognized by the camera can berestrained.

As shown in FIGS. 19 and 21, the central section 21 of the operatingdevice 201 has the lower surface 221 g. The central section 21 isprovided at the lower surface 221 g with a connector 233 into which aconnector of a cable can be inserted from the front side of theoperating device 201. In other words, the central section 21 has theconnector 233 on the lower side thereof, and an insertion port of theconnector 233 into which to insert the cable is opening toward the frontside. A front portion 221 j of the lower surface 221 g projects to themore front side than the insertion port of the connector 233 (the frontend of the connector 233). This makes it possible to effectivelyrestrain the light of the light emitting part 228 from being interceptedby the cable connected to the connector 233 or the connector provided atthe forward end of the cable. Incidentally, the insertion port of theconnector 233 may be oriented obliquely downward. Such a configurationensures that a larger distance can be secured between the light emittingpart 228 and the cable connected to the connector 233.

As shown in FIG. 19, the lower surface 221 g of the central section 21has a bulging part 221 h which bulges downward. The connector 233 isaccommodated in the bulging part 221 h, and its insertion port isexposed to the front side from a front surface of the bulging part 221h. As shown in FIG. 20, lowermost portions (in this example, the lowerends of rearmost portions) of the hold sections 10R and 10L and thelower ends 10 d of the projecting parts 10 c are located below thebulging part 221 h. Therefore, even when the user places the operatingdevice 201 on a flat surface for storage of the operating device 201,the connector provided at the end portion of the cable is prevented fromtouching the flat surface. As a result, exertion of a load on theconnector 233 can be prevented.

As shown in FIG. 19, the front portion 221 j of the lower surface 221 gis formed obliquely, and extends forward and upward. Therefore, when theuser inserts the connector of the cable into the connector 233, theconnector of the cable can be guided into the connector 233 by the frontportion 221 j. As a result, the connector of the cable can be insertedsmoothly. The front portion 221 j in this example is curved gently.Incidentally, the front portion 221 j may be an inclined flat surface.The front portion 221 j is formed with a groove 221 k having a widthcorresponding to the width of the connector of the cable. In thecondition where the connector of the cable is inserted in the connector233, the end portion of the cable is disposed in the groove 221 k.Therefore, even in the case where the operating device 201 is moved inuse of the operating device 201, leftward and rightward loads exerted onthe connector 233 can be moderated.

As shown in FIG. 20, the light emitting part 228 and the connector 233are located to be spaced from each other in the vertical direction, infront view. The operating device 201 incorporates a circuit boardtherein. One of a light source (e.g., LED) of the light emitting part228 and the connector 233 is mounted on the circuit board, while theother is vertically spaced from the circuit board. In addition, theother is connected to the circuit board through a cable or the like.

In the example shown in FIG. 20, the light source of the light emittingpart 228 is mounted on a circuit board 251. The operating device 201 inthis example further has a circuit board 252 which is disposed on thelower side of the circuit board 251 and which is opposed to the circuitboard 251. The connector 233 is mounted on the circuit board 252. Thecircuit board 251 and the circuit board 252 are interconnected throughwiring (not shown). A control circuit for controlling the operatingdevice 201 is mounted on the circuit board 251, and data emitted andreceived through the connector 233 is inputted into the control circuiton the circuit board 251 through the circuit board 252 and the wiring.

The connector 233 is mounted on a lower surface of the circuit board252. On the other hand, the light source of the light emitting part 228is mounted, for example, on an upper surface of the circuit board 251.This ensures that a large distance in the vertical direction can besecured between the connector 233 and the light emitting part 228. As aresult, the cable connected to the connector 233 can be effectivelyrestrained from blocking the light from the light emitting part 228.Incidentally, the circuit board 252 may not necessarily be provided. Forinstance, the connector 233 may be connected to the circuit board 251through wiring, without any other circuit board therebetween.

As has been described above, the operating device 201 includes the leftand right hold sections 10R and 10L to be held by the user, which havethe upper surfaces provided with the first operating members (in theabove description, the operating buttons 11 and the direction key 19)and which are located to be spaced from each other in the left-rightdirection. In addition, the operating device 201 includes: the centralsection 21 interconnecting the left and right hold sections 10R and 10L;the light emitting part 228 provided at the front surface 21 a of thecentral section 21; the connector 233 which is provided at the lowersurface 221 g of the central section 21 and into which the cable can beinserted from the front side; and the lower surface 221 g of the centralsection 21 which is possessed by the front portion of the centralsection 21 and which projects to the more front side than the connector233. According to this operating device 201, the cable connected to theconnector 233 can be restrained from obstructing the propagation of thelight from the light emitting part 228.

It is to be noted that various modifications are possible to theoperating device.

For instance, the operating buttons 135 at the grips 12 and 112 may notnecessarily be provided in the operating device.

In addition, the positions of the operating buttons 17R and 17L may notnecessarily be on the rear side of the operating members (the operatingbuttons 11 and the direction key 19) provided at the front portions ofthe hold sections 10R and 10L. The operating buttons 17R and 17L may bedisposed, for example, between the left and right operating sticks 31.

Besides, the light emitting part 28 provided at the front surface of thecentral section 21 may not necessarily project to the front side.

In addition, in the operating device 101, the upper portion 121 d of thefront surface 121 a of the central section 121 may not project to thefront side relative to the lower portion 121 e.

Besides, the upper surface of the housing as part of the operatingdevice 1, 101 or 201 may have an edge located on the front side of theoperating member 22, 122 or 222.

In addition, a plurality of light emitting parts may be provided at thefront surface 21 a of the central section 21. In that case, theplurality of light emitting parts may be disposed to be aligned in theleft-right direction.

Embodiment of Present Invention

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below,referring to the drawings. FIGS. 22 and 23 are perspective views of anoperating device 301 which is one example of the embodiment of thepresent invention. FIG. 22 is a diagram of the operating device 301 onan upper side, and FIG. 23 is a diagram of the operating device 301 on afront side. FIG. 24 is a plan view of the operating device 301, and FIG.25 is a front view of the operating device 301. FIG. 26 is a sectionalview taken along line XXVI-XXVI of FIG. 24. In these figures, the sameparts as those in the operating devices described above are denoted bythe same reference symbols as used above. In the following, descriptionwill be made principally of the points in which the operating device 301differs from the aforementioned operating devices. The other pointswhich will not be described below are the same as in the above-describedoperating devices.

As depicted in FIG. 22, the operating device 301 has at a left portionand a right portion thereof hold sections 310L and 310R to be held by auser. In addition, the operating device 301 has a central section 321between the hold sections 310L and 310R. At upper surfaces of frontportions of the hold sections 310L and 310R, there are providedoperating members (specifically, operating buttons 11 and direction keys19) to be operated by the user. The operating device 301 has a housing340. The housing 340 constitutes an outer surface of the operatingdevice 301, and houses therein a variety of component parts possessed bythe operating device 301. The housing 340 in this example has an upperhousing half 341 and a lower housing half 349, which are put intocombination with each other in the vertical direction.

As shown in FIG. 23, the operating device 301 has a light emittingsurface 328 c at a front surface of the central section 321. Light fromthe light emitting surface 328 c is captured through a camera connectedto an information processing apparatus. As illustrated in FIG. 26, theoperating device 301 has light sources G (in this example, lightemitting diodes) which emit visible rays, and a plate-shaped lightdiffusing member 328 having a front surface functioning as the lightemitting surface 328 c. Light from the light sources G passes throughthe light diffusing member 328, to be emitted from the whole part of thelight emitting surface 328 c. In other words, the light emitting surface328 c performs surface light emission.

The operating device 301 includes a plurality of different-color lightsources G (for example, red, green and blue light sources). Theoperating device 301 controls the brightness of each of the lightsources G, whereby the light emitting surface 328 c is made to emitlight in a color designated by the information processing apparatus or acolor according to operating conditions of the operating device 301.This ensures that even where a plurality of the operating devices 301are used simultaneously, the information processing apparatus can detectthe respective positions of the operating devices 301.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 26, a light guide member 329 isdisposed on an inner side of the light diffusing member 328. The lightsources G are mounted on a lower surface of a circuit board 70, and arelocated on an upper side of the light guide member 329. The lights fromthe light sources G are diffused in the light guide member 329 and thelight diffusing member 328, before being emitted from the light emittingsurface 328 c. The positions of the light sources G are not restrictedto the just-mentioned. For instance, the light sources G may be disposedat the left and the right of the members 328 and 329.

The central section 321 includes a portion located over the lightemitting surface 328 c. The light emitting surface 328 c is so disposedas to be hidden behind this portion of the central section 321. Asdepicted in FIG. 26, the operating device 301 also has a face panel 324constituting an upper surface of the central section 321, like theoperating device 1, etc. which have been described hereinabove. Thelight emitting surface 328 c is located under the face panel 324, and isso disposed as to be oriented obliquely forward and downward. Thislayout of the light emitting surface 328 c ensures that the lightemitting surface 328 c is hidden behind the face panel 324 as thecentral section 321 is viewed from above. To be more specific, when thecentral section 321 is viewed obliquely from an upper front side, thelight emitting surface 328 c is hidden behind the face panel 324.Therefore, light from lighting equipment in a room in which theoperating device 301 is being used or the like can be restrained frombeing incident on, and reflected by, the light emitting surface 328 c.It is to be noted that the member located over the light emittingsurface 328 c may not necessarily be the face panel 324. For instance,the upper housing half 341 may be formed with a portion which is locatedover the light emitting surface 328 c.

The central section 321 has a portion which is located over the lightemitting surface 328 c and is located on a more forward side than thelight emitting surface 328 c. As shown in FIG. 26, this portion includesa front portion of the face panel 324 (hereinafter referred to as frontsurface portion 324 c). The front portion 324 c protrudes to a moreforward side than an upper edge 328 d of the light emitting surface 328c. This ensures more effective prevention of the light from the roomlighting equipment from being incident on the light emitting surface 328c. Note that the front surface portion 324 c of the face panel 324 maynot necessarily protrude to the more forward side than the upper edge328 d of the light emitting surface 328 c. For example, the frontsurface portion 324 c may have a flat plate-like shape extending upwardfrom the position of the upper edge 328 d of the light emitting surface328 c.

As shown in FIG. 26, the light emitting surface 328 c in this example isa flat surface oriented obliquely downward. Specifically, the lightemitting surface 328 c is inclined so that the upper edge 328 d thereofis located on a more forward side than a lower edge 328 e thereof. Thisshape of the light emitting surface 328 c ensures that the lightemitting surface 328 c is more likely to be hidden behind the face panel324 than in the case of a structure in which the light emitting surfaceis so bent as to be protuberant to the forward side. In addition, whenthe operating device 301 is held in a somewhat upwardly inclined stateby the user, the light emitting surface 328 c can be oriented toward acamera.

A lower-side portion of the front surface of the central section 321 isoriented obliquely downward. As depicted in FIG. 23, the light emittingsurface 328 c is provided in a common plane in which the front surfaceof the central section 321 also lies. In other words, the light emittingsurface 328 c and the part surrounding the periphery of the lightemitting surface 328 c are located in substantially the same plane. Inthis example, a front surface 349 b of the housing 340 (morespecifically, the lower housing half 349) is an inclined surface whichis oriented obliquely downward. The front surface 349 b includes asurface 349 c which extends obliquely toward an upper front side fromthe upper edge of the light emitting surface 328 c. This surface 349 cis located on a more forward side than the light emitting surface 328 c,together with the front portion 324 c of the face panel 324. The frontsurface of the housing 340 is formed with an opening for exposing thelight emitting surface 328 c, and the light emitting surface 328 c isflush with an edge of the opening of the housing 340. It is to be notedthat the light emitting surface 328 c may be recessed in relation to thepart surrounding the light emitting surface 328 c.

As shown in FIG. 26, at the front surface of the central section 321 isprovided a connector 333, which is located under the light emittingsurface 328 c. Even when a terminal of a cable comes into contact withthe light emitting surface 328 c by mistake in a process of fitting thecable terminal into the connector 333, the cable terminal can be guidedto the connector 333 by the light emitting surface 328 c, which isformed flush with the surrounding part. In addition, it is possible tolower the possibility that an external force might be exerted, fromabove, on the cable terminal fitted into the connector 333.

As illustrated in FIG. 23, each of the left and right hold sections 310Land 310R is provided with operating buttons 15 and 16 at a front surfacethereof. The operating buttons 15 and 16 protrude to a more forward sidethan the front surface of the central section 321. As aforementioned,the light emitting surface 328 c is formed to be oriented obliquelydownward, and its lower edge 328 e is located on a more rear side thanits upper edge 328 d. The connector 333 is provided under the lower edge328 e of the light emitting surface 328 c. Particularly in this example,the connector 333 is located on a more rear side than the lower edge 328e of the light emitting surface 328 c (see FIG. 26). This structureensured that a larger spacing is secured between the operating buttons15 and 16 and the connector 33, than in the case of a structure whereinthe light emitting surface 328 c is disposed to be oriented straightforward. As a result, when the user's fingers are placed on theoperating buttons 15 and 16, the possibility of any of the fingerscoming into contact with a cable portion near the terminal can belowered, so that exertion of a load on the connector 333 can beprevented.

As shown in FIG. 25, the light emitting surface 328 c is shaped to beelongated in the left-right direction. The light emitting surface 328 cin this example is roughly triangular in shape. This shape permits theinformation processing apparatus to easily distinguish the light emittedfrom the light emitting surface 328 c from other light. As a result, theaccuracy in detecting the position of the operating device 301 can beenhanced. Note that the light emitting surface 328 c may be polygonal inshape.

As illustrated in FIG. 25, the light emitting surface 328 c has a shapecorresponding to the front surface of the central section 321. The frontsurface of the central section 321 in this example has a lower edgewhich is bent at a midpoint thereof. Specifically, the lower edge of thefront surface has a portion 321 a extending obliquely rightward andupward from the midpoint, and a portion 321 b extending leftward andupward from the midpoint. The lower edge 328 e of the light emittingsurface 328 c, also, has a portion extending obliquely rightward andupward from a midpoint, and a portion extending leftward and upward fromthe midpoint, like the lower edge of the front surface of the centralsection 321. This makes it easy to secure the size of the light emittingsurface 328 c.

As depicted in FIG. 24, the operating device 301 has a plate-shapedoperating member 322 at an upper surface of the central section 321,like the operating devices in the first to third examples describedhereinabove. The operating member 322 includes a touch sensor 23 (seeFIG. 26) and the face panel 324. The touch sensor 23 is located betweenthe operating members possessed by the left and right hold sections 310Land 310R (namely, the operating buttons 11 and the direction keys 19).Beneath the operating member 322 is disposed a switch 71 (see FIG. 26)for detecting that the operating member 322 is depressed. Therefore, theoperating member 322 functions as a button capable of on-off operations.As shown in FIG. 22, the operating device 301 has, on the right side andthe left side of the operating member 322, operating buttons 317R and317L which correspond to the aforementioned operating buttons 217R and217L.

The face panel 324 in this example is slightly protruding upward,relative to the part surrounding a rear edge, a left edge and a rightedge of the face panel 324 (namely, relative to the edge of the openingformed in the housing 340). Therefore, a step is formed along theperiphery of the face panel 324. This permits the user to recognize theposition of the operating member 322 with his/her fingers disposed onthe central section 321, without looking at the operating device 301.

On the lower side of the operating member 322 are arranged a pluralityof elastic members (e.g., springs or rubber), like in the example shownin FIG. 10. The operating member 322 is so supported by these elasticmembers that it can be moved vertically when the operating member 322 isdepressed, no matter where the point of depression is located. As shownin FIG. 26, under the operating member 322 is disposed the circuit board70 on which the switch 71 is mounted. The operating member 322 has, in acentral area of the lower surface thereof, a pressing part 25 a fordepressing the switch 71. The operating member 322 in this example has aframe 25 at the lower surface thereof, and the pressing part 25 a isformed as part of the frame 25. Note that the frame 25 is roughlybox-like in shape, and a driving circuit 26 for the touch sensor 23 isdisposed inside the frame 25.

As depicted in FIG. 26, the operating member 322 (specifically, the facepanel 324) includes a portion constituting the upper surface of thecentral section 321 (this portion will hereinafter be referred to asupper surface portion 324 a), and a portion constituting the frontsurface of the central section 321 (front surface portion 324 c), likethe aforementioned operating member 22, etc. This structure permits theuser to smoothly slide forward his/her fingers on the face panel 324. Inaddition, the user can easily depress a frontmost part of the uppersurface portion 324 a of the face panel 324. Furthermore, the rigidityof the front portion of the face panel 324 can be increased by the frontsurface portion 324 c.

As shown in FIG. 26, the touch sensor 23 is mounted to the upper surfaceportion 324 a of the face panel 324. The front surface portion 324 cextends beyond a front edge of the touch sensor 23, and extends downwardwhile bending. The front surface portion 324 c in this example has anarcuate cross-section. The housing 340 is formed with an opening throughwhich the face panel 324 is exposed. A front edge 349 a of the openingin the housing 340 is located under the lower edge of the front surfaceportion 324 c.

In this example, as depicted in FIG. 25, the front surface portion 324 cof the face panel 324 extends downward beyond a lower edge 341 a of thefront surface of the upper housing half 341, and the front edge 349 a ofthe opening is provided at an upper edge of the lower housing half 349.This structure of the housing halves 341, 349 enables the vertical widthof the front surface portion 324 c to be enlarged.

As illustrated in FIG. 26, the upper housing half 341 has, at a frontportion thereof, a beam part 341 b which is located on an inner side ofthe front surface portion 324 c of the face panel 324 and extends in theleft-right direction. With this beam part 341 b, it is possible tocompensate for a lowering in the rigidity of the upper housing half 341due to the upper housing half 341 lacking a portion located under thefront surface portion 324 c.

The central section 321 is so configured that the light from the lightsources G leaks through the upper surface of the central section 321.Specifically, the face panel 324 is formed of a light transmittingmaterial. The face panel 324 has a portion ranging beyond the front edgeof the touch sensor 23. Under the portion ranging beyond the front edgeof the touch sensor 23, there are arranged the light sources G, a memberor members for reflecting the light of the light sources G, and a memberor members which emit light upon receiving the light of the lightsources G. This ensures that light leaks through the part ranging beyondthe front edge of the touch sensor 23. In the example illustrated inFIGS. 24 and 26, the upper surface portion 324 a of the face panel 324has a portion 324 d which extends forward slightly beyond the front edgeof the touch sensor 23. The front surface portion 324 c extends downwardfrom the portion 324 d, while bending. The light diffusing member 328and the light guide member 329 are located under the portion 324 d andthe front surface portion 324 c. Therefore, the light outgoing upwardfrom the light diffusing member 328 passes through the portion 324 d, toleak upward. It is to be noted that the light sources G may be disposedunder the portion 324 d of the face panel 324. An upper surface or alower surface of the face panel 324 may be given a coloring for definingthe position of leakage of light.

By observing the light outgoing via the portion 324 d, the user canrecognize the color of the light of the light sources G. This isparticularly effective when a plurality of the operating devices 301 areused simultaneously. Thus, in one example of processing by theinformation processing apparatus, the operating devices 301 arediscriminated by the colors of the light emitting surfaces 328 c, and anobject corresponding to each operating device 301 is displayed. The usercan recognize the object being moved through the operating device 301,based on the light leaking through the upper surface of the centralsection 321.

As shown in FIG. 23, a bottom portion 349 e of the housing 340(specifically, the lower housing half 349) is protuberant to the lowerside in its center in the left-right direction. In other words, thebottom portion 349 e has on the right side thereof an inclined surfaceoriented obliquely rightward and downward, and has on the left sidethereof an inclined surface oriented obliquely leftward and downward. Byvirtue of this shape of the bottom portion 349 e, an increase in therigidity of the bottom portion 349 e is achieved.

As depicted in FIG. 25, inside the lower housing half 349 are arrangedthe connector 333, a circuit board 336 to a lower surface of which theconnector 333 is mounted, and a battery 337. The connector 333 isdisposed at a lowermost portion of the lower housing half 349; besides,the connector 333, the circuit board 336, and the battery 337 arearranged in this order from the lower side. In addition, the widths ofthese three component parts in the left-right direction are so set as tobe greater on the upper side. By virtue of this design, prevention of aneedless space from being generated inside the bottom portion 349 e isachieved.

As shown in FIG. 22, a connector 334 is provided at a back surface ofthe central section 321. To the connector 34 is connected a cable of aheadphone, an earphone or the like, for example. In addition, otherdevice for expanding the function of the operating device 1 may beconnected to the connector 34.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment,and various modifications are possible.

For instance, the light emitting surface 328 c may be oriented straightforward. In this case, a frontmost portion of the face panel 324 mayhave an eaves-like shape such as to project forward from the lightemitting surface 328 c.

In addition, the edge 349 a of the housing 340 located under the facepanel 324 may be formed as part of the upper housing half 341.

FIGS. 27 and 28 are diagrams illustrating a modification of theoperating device 301 shown in FIGS. 22 to 26. In the example illustratedin these figures, mainly the layout of a light source G differs fromthat in the example shown in FIGS. 22 to 26. FIG. 27 is a perspectiveview showing the light source G and a light guide member 327. FIG. 28 isa sectional view, taken in the same manner as FIG. 26.

In the example illustrated in these figures, also, a central section 321has a light emitting panel 328. The light emitting panel 328 is a lightdiffusing member for diffusing light in the inside thereof. The lightsource G is disposed in a position spaced apart rearward from the lightemitting panel 328. Specifically, the light source G is disposed in aposition spaced apart rearward from the center in the left-rightdirection of the light emitting panel 328. As aforementioned, thecentral section 321 has a circuit board 336 spaced apart downward from acircuit board 70 on which a switch 71 is mounted. The light source G inthe example described here is mounted on an upper side of the circuitboard 336. The light source G is so mounted on the circuit board 336that the light thereof outgoes forward.

The central section 321 in the example shown here has a light guideplate 327. The light guide plate 327 is so disposed as to extend forwardfrom the light source G, toward a back surface of the light emittingpanel 328 (see FIG. 28). As depicted in FIG. 27, the light guide plate327 has left and right side surfaces 327 a which are so inclined thatthe width of the light guide plate 327 in the left-right directiongradually increases along the forward direction. Such a shape of thelight guide plate 327 ensures that light outgoing from the light sourceG advances forward while being reflected on the left and right sidesurfaces 327 a, an upper surface 327 b, and a lower surface 327 c of thelight guide plate 327, and, in this process, is diverged in theleft-right direction. As a result, light emission can be induced in thewhole region of the light emitting panel 328, which is elongated in theleft-right direction. The light source G is disposed in a positionspaced rearward from a portion between left and right end portions ofthe light emitting panel 328. In the example described here, the lightsource G is disposed in a position spaced rearward from the center inthe left-right direction of the light emitting panel 328. Therefore, thelight guide plate 327 is in a left-right symmetry shape. The lightsource G is located on the rear side of a rear end of the light guideplate 327.

With the distance from the light emitting panel 328 to the light sourceG enlarged, namely, with the distance from the light emitting panel 328to the rear end of the light guide plate 327 enlarged, it becomes easierfor the light advancing within the light guide plate 327 to be reflectedon the side surfaces 327 a. Therefore, it is desirable that the distancefrom the light emitting panel 328 to the light source G be longer. Inthe example shown in FIG. 28, the light source G is disposed at the rearend of the circuit board 336.

As illustrated in FIG. 28, the circuit board 336 is disposed in aposition below the light emitting panel 328. More specifically, thecircuit board 336 is arranged in a position below a lower edge 328 e ofthe light emitting panel 328. In addition, in the example describedhere, the light source G is also disposed in a position below the loweredge 328 e of the light emitting panel 328. The light guide plate 327has a first plate portion 327A extending forward from the light sourceG. The first plate portion 327A is disposed along the circuit board 336.In other words, the first plate portion 327A is arranged horizontally.In addition, the light guide plate 327 has a second plate portion 327Bdisposed along a back surface of the light emitting panel 328. The lightguide plate 327 has a bent portion 327 d formed between the first plateportion 327A and the second plate portion 327B. Light passing from thefirst plate portion 327A into the second plate portion 327B is reflectedon a surface of the bent portion 327 d without fail. Therefore, theprovision of the bent portion 327 d as part of the light guide plate 327increases the number of times of light reflection. As a result, thelight advancing through the light guide plate 327 is more likely todiverge in the left-right direction. As aforementioned, a battery 337 isdisposed between the circuit board 336 and the circuit board 70. In theexample described here, by virtue of the bend of the light guide plate327, it is made possible to avoid interference between the light guideplate 327 and the battery 337. A light reflecting member may be attachedto a surface (for example, a surface oriented obliquely downward) of thebent portion 327 d. Alternatively, a surface of the bent portion 327 dmay be processed for reflection of light thereon. In other words, amember for total reflection of light, for example, a mirror surface, maybe attached to the surface of the bent portion 327 d, or a surfaceprocessing may be applied to the surface of the bent portion 327 d.

The light emitting panel 328 is disposed to be oriented obliquelydownward, as aforementioned. As shown in FIG. 28, the second plateportion 327B is disposed along the back surface of the light emittingpanel 328, and is inclined in the same manner as the light emittingpanel 328. On the other hand, the first plate portion 327A is arrangedalong the circuit board 336, and is horizontal. In other words, thefirst plate portion 327A is disposed perpendicularly to the verticaldirection. Therefore, an obtuse angle θ is formed between the firstplate portion 327A and the second plate portion 327B. This enables thebent portion 327 d to be bent gently. As a result, it is possible torestrain the light advancing within the light guide plate 327 from beingtransmitted through the surface of the bent portion 327 d withoutadvancing into the second plate portion 327B.

As shown in FIG. 27, the back surface of the second plate portion 327B(the surface on the side opposite to the light emitting panel 328) hasbeen embossed (in FIG. 27, a plurality of recesses 327 e are drawn forclarification of embossing). The embossing ensures that the lightimpinging on the back surface of the second plate portion 327B is morelikely to be reflected forward. As a result, the brightness of the lightemitting panel 328 can be increased. The embossing is applied to thatregion of the back surface of the second plate portion 327B whichcorresponds to the light emitting panel 328. In addition, in the exampledescribed here, as depicted in FIG. 28, a reflective plate 326 isattached to the back surface of the second plate portion 327B. Thisensures that the light advancing within the second plate portion 327B isfurther likely to be reflected forward.

Electronic parts are arranged on an upper surface of the circuit board336. The first plate portion 327A is disposed on the upper side of theelectronic parts. In the example described here, as shown in FIG. 28, aconnector 336 a for connection with a cable for electrical connectionbetween the circuit board 336 and the circuit board 70 is mounted on theupper surface of the circuit board 336, and the first plate portion 327Ais disposed on the upper side of the connector 336 a. A lower surface ofthe first plate portion 327 has an inclined surface 327 f for avoidinginterference between the first plate portion 327A and the connector 336a. The light source G is disposed spaced apart rearward from theconnector 336 a. Therefore, gentle inclination of the inclined surface327 f of the first plate portion 327A is achieved. As a result, it isachieved to restrain the light from being transmitted through theinclined surface 327 f. In other words, the light is likely to undergototal reflection on the inclined surface 327 f.

As illustrated in FIG. 27, the first plate portion 327A is formed at arear portion thereof with attachment parts 327 g which project leftwardand rightward. Projections 349 f projecting from a bottom portion 349 eof the central section 321 are fitted in holes formed in the attachmentparts 327 g. By this the light guide plate 327 is attached to the bottomportion 349 e.

In the example illustrated in FIGS. 27 and 28, the light source G isattached to the circuit board 336. However, the light source G may beattached to the circuit board 70. In this case, a configuration may beadopted wherein the light source G is disposed spaced apart rearwardfrom the light emitting panel 328, and the aforementioned light guideplate 327 is disposed therebetween.

Besides, in the case where the component parts such as the battery 337are not arranged between the circuit board 336 and the circuit board 70,the light guide plate 327 may not necessarily have the bent portion 327d.

1-9. (canceled)
 10. A method of manufacturing a controller comprising:combining an upper housing and a lower housing; wherein the upperhousing forms upper-side portions of a left hold section and a righthold section configured to be held by a user, each of the left holdsection and right hold section include an operating member located at anupper surface thereof; wherein the upper housing forms an upper-sideportion of a central section which is a section between the left holdsection and right hold section; wherein a front surface of the centralsection comprises a light emitting surface adapted to emit light to becaptured by an information processing apparatus through a camera;wherein the central section includes a portion which is located over thelight emitting surface in a vertical direction and is located moreforward than the light emitting surface in a front/back direction; andwherein the lower housing forms lower-side portions of the left holdsection, the right hold section, and the central section.
 11. A methodof manufacturing a controller comprising: combining, in a verticaldirection an upper housing and a lower housing; wherein the upperhousing comprises an upper surface with a plurality of operating membersare disposed on the upper surface; and a front surface comprising atouch sensor, a light source, and a light emitting area located in theupper surface and configured to be made luminous by the light source.12. A method of manufacturing a controller comprising: combining, in avertical direction an upper housing and a lower housing; wherein theupper housing forms upper-side portions of a left hold section and aright hold section configured to be held by a user and wherein the lowerhousing forms lower-side portions of the left hold section and the righthold section; a first operating member which is located at one of theright or the left hold sections, the first operating member being anoperating button; a first operating stick which is disposed at one of aright side or a left side with respect to a center line which extends ina front-rear direction of the controller; a second operating memberwhich has a smaller size than the first operating stick and the firstoperating member in a plane view, the second operating member being anoperating button; wherein, in the plane view, a point is located on thesecond operating member at an equal distance from both a center of thefirst operating stick and a center of the first operating member.
 13. Amethod of manufacturing a controller comprising: combining an upperhousing and a lower housing; wherein the upper housing comprises: afirst operation area which is located at one of a right side or a leftside with respect to a center line extending in a front-rear directionof the controller; a second operation area which is located at anopposite side of the first operation area with respect to the centerline; a touch pad which is located between the first operation area andthe second operation area in a plan view; and an operating button whichis located at a position between i) the touch pad and ii) one of thefirst operation area and the second operation area in the plan view. 14.The method of manufacturing a controller according to claim 10 whereinthe upper housing and the lower housing are combined in a verticaldirection.
 15. The method of manufacturing a controller according toclaim 10, wherein the light emitting surface is a flat surface orientedobliquely downward.
 16. The method of manufacturing a controlleraccording to claim 15 wherein the portion of the central sectionincludes a surface which extends obliquely upward and forward from anupper edge of the light emitting surface.
 17. The method ofmanufacturing a controller according to claim 10 wherein a light sourceis disposed on an inner side of the light emitting surface, and thecentral section is so configured that light of the light source leaksthrough an upper surface thereof
 18. The method of manufacturing acontroller according to claim 11 further comprising a light guide memberwherein the light emitting area on the upper surface is positionedupwardly from the light guide member.
 19. The method of manufacturing acontroller according to claim 11 wherein the upper surface furthercomprises a face panel constituting a portion of the upper surface,formed of a light transmitting material and including the light emittingarea.
 20. The method of manufacturing a controller according to claim 11wherein the touch sensor is provided on the upper surface, and the lightemitting area on the upper surface is located along an edge of the touchsensor.
 21. The method of manufacturing a controller according to claim20 wherein the light emitting area is located along a front edge of thetouch sensor.
 22. The method of manufacturing a controller according toclaim 20 wherein the upper surface further comprises a face panelconstituting a portion of the upper surface, wherein the touch sensor isattached on the face panel, and the face panel is formed of a lighttransmitting material and includes the light emitting area in a portionof the face panel.
 23. The method of manufacturing a controlleraccording to claim 11 wherein a plate-like operating member is providedto the upper surface and is vertically movable to function as a button,wherein the light emitting area is defined on the plate-like operatingmember.
 24. The method of manufacturing a controller according to claim11 wherein the front surface further comprises a light emitting surfacewherein the light source is configured to emit light to make the lightemitting surface luminous.
 25. The method of manufacturing a controlleraccording to claim 24 wherein a light guide member is disposed insidethe controller and extending toward the light emitting surface definedon the front surface; wherein the light guide member comprises aplurality of side surfaces; and the plurality of side surfaces areinclined such that a width of the light guide member in a left-rightdirection gradually increases toward the light emitting surface.
 26. Themethod of manufacturing a controller according to claim 12 wherein thesecond operating member is located at an opposite side of the firstoperating member with respect to a straight line which extends in thefront-rear direction and passes through the center of the firstoperating stick.
 27. The method of manufacturing a controller accordingto claim 26 further comprising: a plurality of operating buttons whichare disposed at the one of the right or the left hold sections, each ofthe plurality of operating buttons being disposed at each edge of across, wherein the first operating member is one of the plurality ofoperating buttons, the one of the plurality of operating buttons beinglocated closer to the straight line than any other of the plurality ofoperating buttons.
 28. The method of manufacturing a controlleraccording to claim 13 wherein the operating button is disposed adjacentto a side edge of the touch pad.
 29. The method of manufacturing acontroller according to claim 13 further comprising: a plurality ofoperating members which are disposed in at least one of the firstoperation area and the second operation area, wherein the operatingbutton is used less frequently than the plurality of operating members;and wherein the operating button is disposed on a front side in thefront-rear direction relative to the plurality of operating members.